Are You a Writer in a Box?

There is a world of difference between branding and confinement.

“How do you avoid writer’s block?” is the most common question I hear from writers.

I write thousands of words a day on various topics. I’ve long ago gone from struggling with writer’s block to coming up with an interesting sentence.

One is not a lesser evil than the other, however. The only difference is when writers actively stop struggling against stasis, our synapses fire in such a way where barriers break and abundance takes over. The block is diluted when we stop fighting, as what has been holding us back no longer holds the same power.

It’s no longer worth our fight.

Conversely, writing with a sense of abundance knows no boundaries.

This is where we will begin.

Branding vs. Evergreen Branding vs. Confinement

Branding is a proactive effort on the part of a writer to hone in on certain areas of personal and professional expertise and exceed the expectations of their readers by writing within them. Successfully exceeding expectations while offering anticipated content will, ideally, lead to a larger readership.

Evergreen Branding — a term I created for this article — is branding with no limits. Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, Cantonese for The Way of the Intercepting Fist, which he further described as “the art of fighting without fighting,” is a fair analogy. Lee did not believe in limitation. For writers, branding with no limits is in itself a brand, with no opportunity for confinement.

Confinement is when readers expect one thing and one thing only from a writer. When the writer tries spreading their wings and writing “outside the box,” they are rejected. Performers very much deal with this type of expectation: It’s called “typecasting.”

We all need our readers, but allowing those readers to dictate your creativity is an issue you need to curtail before it begins.

The Free Writer

Writing freely is akin to an athletic pursuit. Indeed, writing to me is an athletic pursuit. We have a certain amount of time to affix our words on the page, and we hope our strategy brings with it the desired success. If said strategy does not work, we must pivot. If you write professionally for a living, meeting deadlines are non-negotiable.

Being a free writer grants creators certain privileges that do not exist when concerning themselves with an imaginary box.

You have a particular advantage if you are not yet an established writer, as your brand-in-progress has not yet been widely recognized. Is an evergreen brand any “better” than a standard brand? Not necessarily. A dentist who wants to write may be unable to compose a thoughtful work about being a car mechanic, for example. Work within your areas of expertise if that is where you firmly believe your work will most resonate, but always exceed expectations — those of both your readers and yourself.

Free writers, those who work within the evergreen brand and hold no sway whatsoever to confinement, are rare but they exist. “Jacks of all trades,” as they are known in industry, exist in the literary world too.

But readers can be a picky lot. Regardless of the type of writer, we all need to serve our readership in the end.

Remaining in “The Zone”

Returning for a moment to my “athletic” analogy, once writer’s block has been rendered obsolete … write! Write as if your life depends on it, as if you have a great deal of catching up to do. Revel in that athlete’s zone and remain there for as long as you can.

A quick strategy: Don’t think about it too much.

Just write.

Thank you for reading.

If you have found this article of value, feel free to recommend, share and follow me here on Vocal, where I publish stories daily on a variety of topics.

Chances are your parents used to tell you you wouldn't be able to get a good job without a college degree. In previous decades, this may have been truer than it is today. Why? Because even people with college degrees have a hard time finding employment these days. So don't get down on yourself. You can make your way with the best careers without degree requirements.

His grandmother's death inspired a vision; David Sawyer's interview may inspire you as well. Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today. For David Sawyer, storytelling has allowed him to become one of the youngest CEO's in the country. As a senior at Stetson University in Deland, Florida, Sawyer is the CEO and founder of TSOLife, a web application that allows users to share their own legacies for future generations. The Story of Life, LLC (TSOLife) is an innovative genealogy and personal narrative service that revolutionizes how we record stories and present our legacies to future generations. It does not follow the typical path of searching for public documents. Instead, it empowers users to write their own histories. Through TSO Life's web platform, users are allowed to be remembered the way they want to be remembered and pass down a personal legacy to their future generations.

Employee engagement, employee happiness, employee BREAKS!? In a movie, that’s where the record player would scratch to indicate something terrible just happened. BREAKS!? “Workers aren’t hired to take breaks; they’re hired to WORK!” That’s one person’s opinion. I think this sentence should be said like this, “PEOPLE are invited in roles to increase production.” Research shows, paradoxically, that taking breaks can supplement and increase productivity. I’m a fortunate man, for many reasons, but incredibly fortunate to work for a company that provides some autonomy, empowers me to make decisions and allows me to empower those I work with. In our growing company, our Marketing Department is comprised of two people; myself and a wonderful person named Amber. Our roles have been set up to support our “happy place” in the context of workflows. I’m empowered to think big, vision-cast, and oversee big projects. Amber comes alongside me and makes sure that while I’m being a dreamer and visionary, the small details don’t get missed. Even though we are in our happy places, there are of course things we have to do that we don’t love. Amber is an incredibly efficient worker-bee, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t get tired, frustrated with a process, or straight up burnt out on a project. I saw this. Not just in her, but also myself. What’s the solution? I established a weekly 1-1 over coffee. We think bigger, we bond, and we get things done. Period. As a result of these meetings, we have been become more productive and more connected in thought and communication. What’s the takeaway? Sometimes… Coffee. Just take a break. For you analytical, black & white people, here are a few pointers for you to consider:

Some say that this was the sexiest war ever fought, others maintain it was the most sexist war in history. Others pretend it never happened (you read Playboy for the articles, right?). One thing is certain: audiences all around the globe benefited from this battle of Penthouse versus Playboy, or as it’s alternately known, the Tortoise vs. the Hare.

"Every dog has its day" as the old expression goes, which in the case of the humble business card means that it's "15 minutes of fame" has, rather remarkably, persisted for well over 400 years. There is reasonable historical evidence that the business card may have found its beginnings in China in the 1400s—certainly not in the form of a business card per se—but rather the means by which one identified him or herself.

Usually, dispenser boxes manufacture think that their product will survive and do well if it is made at high standards, but it is not valid, as the product only can’t guarantee you success. The other processes involved in the goods’ course in business are equally necessary, and one of the most paramount factors is the packaging.